This was begun on April 21, 2018, the eve of Robert Starer's death seventeen years ago. Each year, the countdown begins: the last meal together (cheeseburgers), his final day of composing music (he … [Read more...]

Today is March 31, 2018, Holy Saturday in the Church calendar. Today is the beginning of Passover in the Jewish calendar. Scrooge met up with his Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas … [Read more...]

This is a scene that comes early in my new novel (title still secret.) While writing that early part I had not yet imagined this scene. But now, a year later, while writing an era further along in … [Read more...]

Today is February 14, 2018. It is Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day and my father's birthday. I can no longer give up drinking for Lent, having foresworn it forever nine years ago, so am mulling … [Read more...]

Today is the 46th anniversary of my grandmother Edna Rogers Krahenbuhl's death in Asheville, the 32nd anniversary of my cat Gingie's death in Woodstock, and the first anniversary of My Awful … [Read more...]

It is January 12, 2018. Today the U.S. Embassy in London, both the soon to be opened new one and the one in Grosvenor Square where I worked during the 1960's, is in the news because our president … [Read more...]

Today is January 8, 2018. It would be Robert's 94th birthday. I was signing books in Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, and I looked up and saw a white-haired man smiling down at me. I should mention … [Read more...]

For me, it began the summer I turned 11, and ended sixty-one years later when, going on 73, I woke up disgusted with myself and wrote in my journal: "Please help me, I am going straight to Hell." The … [Read more...]

Today is December 14, 2017 The hill is a sheet of ice and it's too cold to go out if you don't have to. Yesterday I was struck by a provocative essay in Literary Hub by Emma C. Eisenberg. It was … [Read more...]

Today is December 10, 2017. But what of Zeb, brother of Waldo, son of Gerry and Chicklet? Gerry and Chicklet, parents of Zeb and Waldo. Above their picture, the breeder had written, "She has … [Read more...]